New York, NY (December 2, 2020) – The Museum of Illustration at Society of Illustrators (SI) is pleased to announce that they have received two grant awards to help fund their free SI Illustration Art Education Grades K-12 Programs that have recently been restructured for online delivery. The Society is grateful for The Bruce J. Heim Foundation’s $2,500 grant to support their Saturday Stories webinars for children offered in-conjunction with Original Art (OA): The Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration exhibit currently on view; and the AE Family Foundation’s $3,500 award to fund their High School Career Exploration & Portfolio Review Virtual Workshops offered in partnership with the School Art League and Exploring the Arts.   

Recent programs presented and funded by these grants included the Saturday Stories: A Polar Bear in the Snow children’s book Zoom reading and collage demonstration by acclaimed illustrator and OA exhibiting artist Shawn Harris for 38 children and their parents on November 14; and a live High School Workshop webinar with award-winning illustrator Brittany (Bea) Jackson for 50 High School of Art and Design students on November 17. The Polar Bear in the Snow program is available for viewing on the SI YouTube Channel here. The High School Workshop series is offered to NYC schools by invitation only. For more details, email an inquiry to info@societyillustrators.org.

The next free admission Saturday Stories interactive Zoom presentation will take place on December 12, from 10:30 am-12 pm. It is being led by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell, who will be reading his most recent picture book, Hello, Neighbor! The Kind and Caring World of Mr. Rogers, and demonstrating how he illustrates his stories with the use of old-fashioned pen and ink, dip pens, and watercolor paint. Participants will be encouraged to create their own drawings and ask questions to learn more about the art of illustration. To register for this event, visit our website here. The Society’s Original Art exhibit showcasing over 150 children’s book illustrators is on view live at the Museum’s Galleries at 128 East 63rd Street and virtually. Advanced reservations and fees of $15/adult and $10/student/senior are required for onsite visits adhering to safety protocols. Fees applicable for online viewing. SI members and children under 10 accompanied by an adult are free.             

Like other NYC art institutions, the Museum of Illustration at the Society of Illustrators was closed to the public from March 14 to September 9 due to COVID-19. Regardless of their closure, the 119-year-old nonprofit arts organization’s dedicated staff of eight continued to advance its mission of promoting the art of illustration by restructuring programs and exhibits online that ultimately served 50,000 members and friends worldwide in 2020. These visual art services are only made possible through grants, donations and membership dues. To learn more about becoming an SI member and making a tax-deductible contribution, contact Marketing & Business Manager Lindsay Nichols at 212-838-2560 or lindsay@societyillustrators.org.